Electric switch



June 7, 1927.

v G. B. THOMAS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed NOV. 4. 1924 INVENTOR ames 5. THO W45 BY l/VWM M ATTORNEYS Patented June 7, 1927. 1,631,841

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. THOMAS, 013" BRIDGEIORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- N ECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed November 4, 1924. Serial No. 747,807.

My invention relates to electric switches, flanges 22' and 23 integral with the push and particularly to snap switches. The obplate 24, which reciprocates across the switch ject of my invention is to provide a simple chamber 11' in a plane normal to the plane and efiicient mechanism of the push bar type, of the contacts 10 and 17. The levers 19 lie b which a snap make-and-break action 1s on opposite sides of the push plate, and their 60 eflected. frccends are constantly urged towardcach In the accompanying drawingsother and toward the push plate by the pull Fig. 1 is a section on the line 1-1, Fig. spring 25 connected to the lever ends. To 3,0f an electric lamp socket provided with a accommodate and permit the play of the switch in which my invention is embodied'in spring 25, the push plate 24 is centrally one form; apertured at 26.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the switch Any suitable means may be employed for mechanism in different position; guiding and reciprocating the push bar. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. Guide channels 27'and 28 formed in the but- 1; and i ton 5, and in which the push bar works, serve 7 Fig. 4 is a perspective of the push bar as guides therefor. Conventional buttons 29 unit. and 30 of insulating material, secured at op- The present mechanism is suitable for use posite ends of the push plate, extend sufliin switches of various types, and it will be ciently beyond the button 5, and socket cas understood that its illustration in an electric lng (not shown), to permit manual operalamp socket is merely indicative of one of tlon of the push plate The latter is held the various types of appliances to which the gainst angular play, In its own plane, by invention is readily adaptable. the disk 6, the sliding engagement with y The insulating members of the socket comwhich by the lugs 31 and 32 maintains the prise a button 5 of porcelain or the like and plate at the bottom of the guide slots 27 and 80 a cooperating disk 6 of fiber, paper or the 28. The longitudinal play of the push plate like, which lies against one end of the butis limited by the bays 33 and 84 against the ton 5. The usual center and shell socket b ms of Which the p h uttons 29 and terminals 7 and 8 respectively, rest against bear in the opposite extreme-operating 0 the disk 6. The center terminal 7 issecured P S- in position by the rivet 9 and has integral Spaced from the contaets 10'and 17 and therewith a switch contact arm 10 which opposed thereto are walls and 36 of the passes through the disk into the switch switch chamber, against which, in the off chamber 11- formed by a recess in the button position of the switch, the rocking levers 19 a5 5. The base flange of the shell terminal 8 is lie. The throw of the switch levers is thus 90 in direct electrical connection with the bindconfined between the contacts 10 and 17 on ing screw terminal 12 through the oflset exthe one hand, and the abutment walls 35 tension 13 thereof, which is tapped and 'enand 36' of the switch chamber on the other gaged by one of the screwbolts 14 passing hand. y through the button 5 and disk '6, in a manner The operation of the mechanism is readily well understood in the art. The other screw understood. In Fig. 1 the switch is shown bolt 15 similarly passes through the button 5 in closed position, the current passing from and disk 6 and engages the nut 16 which the switch contact 17 of the wire terminal overlies the base flange of the shell 8 at a 18 through the rocking levers 19 and flanges 45 point diametrically opposite the screw 14. 22 and 23 of the push plate, to the. switch I The second switch contact 17 is integral contact 10 integral wlth the center terminal with the wire terminal 18 which, like the 7 of the socket. On the dis lacement of the socket terminal 7, is riveted to the disk 6. push plate 24 to the right Fig. 1), the free The two switch contacts 10 and 17 are spaced ends of switch levers 19, held in sliding en- 50 apart in the same plane and rest against one gagement with the contacts 10 and 17 by the of the opposite side walls of the switch spring 25, are forced outward and thus chamber. spread apart, thereby stretchin and increas- To make and break connection between the ing the stress on the spring. s the axes 20 contacts 10 and 17, rocking levers 19 are and 21 of the switch levers 19 cross the plane 55 pivoted at 20 and 21-m upper and lower into which the switch levers are thus forced, no

, switch levers 19 formed of wire, bent to U- shape with ofl'set spring anchorage 37 at their free ends, but it will be readily understood that these arms may be struck from sheet metal or formed in some other fashion.

'I have also shown the pivot flanges 22 and 23 formed integral with the sheet metal push plate from which they are offset, but various other constructions are available. It will of course be obvious that if desired the switch contacts may be so arranged as to be spanned by only one of the switch levers-in which event the others will serve merely as part of the operating mechanism. These and other details of construction may be modified in many ways without departing from what I claim as my invention.

I claim- 1. An electric switch com rising a reciprocating centrally apertured punched metal push p ate, a pair of switch levers pivoted to the plate at opposite sides of the aperture punched therein and, extending on opposite sides of the plate, a pull spring passing with clearance through the aperturein said push plate and uniting the lever arms, together with fixed abutments between which the free ends of the levers pla 4 and by which they are detained during the rectilinear displacement of the push plate to shift the pivoted ends of the levers across the plane of the S name to this specification.

2. In an electric switch mechanism, a reciprocating push plate having upper and lower bearings, and being apertured between said bearings, switch levers pivoted onsaid bearings and extending on opposite sides of the push plate, together with a pull spring passing with clearance through the aperture in the push plate and engaging both of said evers.

3. In an electric switch, aninsulating base,

the free ends of said levers, said push plate upon actuation serving to shift'the pivotal axes of the levers across the plane of said spring to cause the throw of said levers into circuitmaking or breaking position with respect to the contacts.

4. mechanism, a sheet metal push plate havin bearing flanges ofiset from its. upper an lower margins, the body of the plate between said flanges being apertured to accommodate a transversely extending spring. I

5. As an assembly unit for an electric switch, a sheet metal push plate having bear- As an element of an electric switch mg flanges offset from its opposite margins and apertured between said flanges, a pair f of switch levers pivoted in said flanges and extendin on opposite sides of the plate,-to-

gether with. a pull spring extending trans-- versely through the aperture in'the plate and anchored at its opposite ends. to the switch levers.

In testimony whereof I have-signedmy 

